Tenth new Buckinghamshire children’s home opens its doors
Buckinghamshire Council has opened a new two-bedroom children’s home in Weston Turville as part of its transformation programme to provide good quality places to live for children and young people in care.
Evergreen Lodge is the council’s tenth children’s home overall and the fourth property to open as part of the council's new Children’s Home Programme. Once complete, the programme will increase the council’s provision to 17 children’s homes, supporting more than 49 children across Buckinghamshire.
The new home will offer a welcoming and homely environment for children in the council’s care. It is designed to support small, family style living to help children stay close to their communities, schools and support networks, allowing them to thrive.
Investing in children’s homes like Evergreen Lodge will also help Buckinghamshire Council save an estimated £7.5 million per year from 27/28 - by providing excellent care for children at a lower cost than private-run children’s homes.
Carl Jackson, Buckinghamshire Council’s Cabinet Member for Education & Children’s Services said:
“Having a safe place to call home is vital for children and young people in our care. Our children's home programme is delivering more children's homes which enable local children and young people to live in a safe, supportive and nurturing environment where they can build bright futures.
“By creating our own in-house care homes, Buckinghamshire Council will avoid spending millions of pounds of taxpayers' money on places in more expensive private children's homes. Those savings will free up more resources to support local children and young people”.
